Top-earners at Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, have been told they must accept salary cuts or look elsewhere for work.

Director general Noel Curran said they must take an overall 30% pay cut by 2013 based on their 2008 salaries.

He conceded that some star presenters - such as Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy, Joe Duffy and Marian Finucane - might well jump ship. But it was a price he was prepared to pay because RTÉ's economic problems were so grave.

Curran, who earns €250,000 (£217,000) a year, said that during a "process of renegotiation" the broadcaster might lose some "talented and loved presenters" to competitors.

Unlike the BBC in Britain, RTÉ is more transparent about the pay rates of its presenters. Under the terms of Curran cuts, the highest earner, Pat Kenny, would see his salary drop from €950,976 (£828,600) to €665,683 (£580,000).